Six of Crows

by Leigh Barduo
published: Henry Holt and Company, 2015
pages: 462

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price -- and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...                                                                       
A convict with a thirst for revenge           A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager                                           A runaway with a privileged past            A spy known as the Wraith                     A Heartreader using her magic to survive the slums                                   A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes                                                                                                                                                                           Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction--if they don't kill each other first.     

This book. Oh, this book is one of the best books I've read in a long time. The writing is incredibly rich and immersive. It's beautiful, witty, and caught me off guard at the right moments. I savored it for as long as I could and then a switch flipped and I had to know what happened. I ended up reading the last 100 pages in one go. I am currently debating on whether or not I should wait to pick up the sequel right away. As it stands, I went to the bookstore the morning after I finished Six of Crows to buy Crooked Kingdom.

The characters thrive at the heart of this novel. Because the book is told from multiple perspectives I was nervous about being able to tell them apart. However, I had nothing to fear. Each character was very distinctive, well rounded and fully formed characters. Their backgrounds were woven into the story seamlessly and I cared for all of them, which can be hard to do when there are half a dozen main characters. They might all be criminals, the scum of the slums, but as Kaz puts it, they wreak of decency.

The pacing of the novel was unbelievable; there was not a single moment that I felt bored or like the story was moving too slowly. Every moment built on another, it was just the right amount of crazy action, character development, and world building. I love that we're never quite sure what's going to happen next: what's a part of the plan and what's improv. A book that keeps me guessing is a book that keeps me interested.

There is some discussion about whether or not you need to read the Grisha Trilogy before reading this book. I am here to say that it's not necessary! I have not read the Grisha Trilogy and I'm sure it gives more context for the story, but Leigh Bardugo does a great job of making this book a self-contained experience.

I cannot wait to read the sequel! Thank you Leigh Bardugo.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

          5 Stars

All The Light We Cannot See

by Anthony Doerr
published: Scribner, 2014
pages: 530

Marie-Laure is a French girl living in Paris with her father.  When she goes blind, he helps her figure out how to get around.  Werner is a German boy who is destined to go work in a coal mines that killed his father.  Both sets of lives are uprooted when World War II begins and they are forced to move from their homes either to flee the Nazis or to join their ranks.  Their unlikely stories converge in a small town by the sea.

This is a World War II novel, but it's unlike most WWII novels.  It tells the stories that aren't often talked about; there's an account of what it's like to live in a German occupied city.  It also depicts the brainwashing of German children, being bred to defend the Reich.  "What's good for the Fuhrer is good for us."  There's also a narrative about the art acquisition for Hitler's mecca museum.  In fact, we only hear a tiny bit about the Holocaust.  It's definitely alluded to, but it's not the main point of this story.  All these things makes this topic feel brand new.

It's a war story from the view of two children.  Marie-Laure, a French girl who is blind, and Werner, a German orphan who happens to be a radio expert.  The distinction between the two characters, aside from the obvious, comes from the elegant and lyrical writing.  The small details make all the difference.  When Werner tells the story, there are physical descriptions, but when Marie-Laure tells the story, the only physical description we get is one of her and that's because she asks somebody to tell her what she looks like.  Marie-Laure's descriptions are more like tangible emotions.

It's really a character study in a time when people weren't thought of as individuals. I found myself rooting for most everyone; characters from both the French and German side.  I tried not to get my hopes up because, being a WWII novel, I knew everything wouldn't be alright in the end.  No one lives through something like that and is 'alright'.  Those experiences change and mold people into someone else.

The time line in this novel is not linear.  It moves back and forth in the characters lives, beginning in Saint-Malo late in the war.  Then it moves back in time to introduce Marie-Laure and Werner just before the beginning of the war.  The jumps in time make this story even more compelling.  The bits of information that are revealed in the present timeline, invites the reader to ask questions about how the characters get in their current situations.

Anthony Doerr's incredible storytelling makes this story come right off the pages, breathing life in words.  It reminds us to "open your eyes and see what you can see with them before they close forever." I will definitely be looking up his other works in the future.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:
"This jewel of a story is put together like a vintage timepiece, its many threads coming together so perfectly.  Doerr's writing and imagery are stunning.  It's been a while since a novel had me under its spell in this fashion."
     --Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting For Stone

"A tender exporation of this world;s paradoxes: the beauty of the laws of nature and the terrible ends to which war subverts them, the frailty and the resilience of the human heart, the immutability of a moment and the healing power of time.  The language is as expertly crafted as the master locksmith's models in the story, and the settings as intricately evoked.  A compelling and uplifting novel.
     --M.L. Stedman, author of The Light Between Oceans

A Full House Reading Challenge 2016 book.
A Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2016 book.
An Alphabet Soup Challenge 2016 book.

Trouble is a Friend of Mine

by Stephanie Tromly
published: Kathy Dawson Books, 2015
pages: 336

When Zoe moves into town after her parent's divorce, she hardly expects to make friends.  She certainly doesn't expect to run into a rude and eccentric boy that will tug her down a rabbit hole in moments of high jinks and certain danger.  Zoe learns quickly that being friends with Digby is a full time job, but she doesn't mind, most of the time.  It's only when he gets them into trouble that it becomes a bit of an issue for her.

Digby is a love-at-first-mention kind of character.  He is super strange and definitely the kind of person I would gravitate toward if I met him in real life.  All his secrets and his quirks made me laugh and groan; there were definitely times when I hated him and times when I just wanted to hug him.  The mystery that follows him wherever he goes is definitely one of the selling points of this story.  He gets into all sorts of insane and unlikely trouble.

This book had me giggling and laughing out loud.  So many of the situations were outrageous, and Zoe's commentary was hilarious.  She definitely got funnier as the book went on; it has to do with her character growth.  The more comfortable she became with the people in her life, the more confident she became.  The other characters, Digby and even Henry, Digby's friend, were funny, but Zoe was on point the entire time.  And she isn't afraid to call those guys out when some questionable humor/comment came from them with the excuse that they were teenage boys.

This book is a whirlwind and slightly crazy, but in the best possible way. I couldn't put this book down and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it.  It made for a couple of difficult work days. I was completely invested in this book, the plot, the characters, and the ridiculousness had me hook, line, and sinker.  I sure hope there is a sequel because I'm already craving more of these characters.

Stars: 5/5 Stars

Praise:

"In what reads like a combination of Veronica mars and The Breakfast Club, debut author Tromly creates a screwball mystery with powerful crossover appeal."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Fast-talking, suit-wearing Digby is an exasperating teenage Sherlock- sharply observant, impatient with social niceties, and unafraid of authority figures....Fans of Veronica Mars and Elementary will find much to like here...Zoe's sarcastic first-person narration is fresh and funny...an offbeat and entertaining caper."
     --Kirkus Reviews

"With acerbic banter and a heathy dose of high-school high jinks, screenwriter Tromly weaves together traditional elements of teen stories to create a Breakfast Club for a new century.
     --Booklist

A Full House Reading Challenge 2015 book!
An Alphabet Soup Challenge book!

The Young Elites

by Marie Lu
published:  G.P. Putnam's Son for Young Readers, 2014
pages: 355

Adelina was a normal girl once, but now she is malfetto.  She may have survived the blood fever when she was younger, but that didn't mean she wasn't effected by it.  Aside from scars, many of the fever's survivors are said to have special powers and call themselves the Young Elites.  Adelina doesn't want the lot she's been handed, but she has only this choice, learn to control it or let it control her.

WHAT THE HECK.

I was sorely tempted to leave that as my full review because holy cow this book threw me for a loop.  I loved that there wasn't any real stability in this story. Everything was constantly in danger of falling apart from numerous different threats-- betrayal, friendship, family, love, secrets, all of these are potential cornerstones in the downfall of our main characters.  There so much to unpack about the characters and where their loyalties lie.

Adelina (beautiful name) is thrown into the world of the Young Elites.  She is just as secretive as the rest of the characters, but in a more desperate way.  Her character growth in this novel is stunning.  Adelina goes from being a terrified and distraught child to a strong-willed and frighteningly powerful Young Elite.  She is definitely our antihero, as are most of the Young Elites.  It's a complicated narrative, where no side is the "right side" and each character has to decide for themselves where they stand.

The powers that some of the characters have are incredible, not your run of the mill flying or invisibility.  There's quite a bit of manipulation of nature and the elements.  It's all very interesting and sometimes scary.  When people compare it to X-men, they are definitely on the right track.  These people with powers are amazing and they have to make a choice on how to use their powers.

Marie Lu knocks it out of the park with this beginning to her knew series.  I cannot wait until the sequel comes out! (Which was YESTERDAY everybody!)  I cannot wait to follow Adelina further into her story and see where high jinks and adventure take her.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"By permitting her characters some grand failures, she raises the stakes in the best way possible... There is clearly more to know, and I look forward to it.  This is a world worth revisiting."
     --The New York Times Book Review

"Lu pivots from the 'coming of age via romance' formula to pry apart the many emotions that pass under the rubric of love... There's nothing easy here, for Adelina or readers -- there are no safe places where the pressures of betrayal, death threats, and rejection aren't felt."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Lu weaves her magic across the page as she unfolds the story of Adelina and the Young Elites.  Nothing is as it is expected."
     --VOYA

A Full House Reading Challenge 2015 book
An Alphabet Soup Challenge book

Nimona

by Noelle Stevenson
published: Harper Collins, 2015
pages: 272

Ballister Blackheart is the most villainous man in the realm.  His arch nemesis, Goldenloin, is the only one who can and has stopped him.  That's all about to change.  When Nimona appoints herself Blackheart's evil sidekick, the villainy really begins.  Together Nimona and Blackheart will cause all sorts of chaos, that is unless Goldenloin and his knights can stop them.  Lines will be crossed, true character will be revealed and the definition of good and evil will be questioned by all.

One thing I love about Nimona is that it started as a web comic and then it was turned into a novel.  It makes me happy that so many people wanted to read this story on paper. There's a great positive message in this unique story that gives it the momentum it needed to become a graphic novel.

The art in this graphic novel is amazing!  I was really drawn to the art style in particular. The drawings are amazing and somewhat realistic in their cartoony fashion.  The colors fit the story so well.  There is lots of bright and vivid coloring, but also quite a bit of blue/green shading that gives the story a little bit of a sinister tone.

Nimona is a feisty and vibrant character that becomes more than just a sidekick to Ballister.  He may seem annoyed by her most of the time but their relationship is one of my favorite parts of this story.  Ballister sort of becomes a father figure for Nimona and she's like a kitten that is constantly getting into trouble and goofing around.  They balance each other very well.

This is one of the best graphic novels I've ever read.  I had a friend recommend it to me and I'm so so glad that I read it when I did.  Hands down, this graphic novel was funny, poignant, incredibly clever and a little bit diabolical.

This was the first true glimpse at Noelle Stevenson's work and it won't be my last.  I can't wait to catch up on the Lumberjanes comics and read anything else she publishes!

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"If you're going to read one graphic novel this year, make it this one."
     --Kirkus Reviews

"At its core, Nimona is a story of rescue.  Each of the main characters rescue allies, friendships, the Kingdom, and ultimately, themselves... A vibrant solo work."
     --School Library Journal, starred review

"Sharp visuals, a nifty amalgam of fantasy and science fiction elements, and relationships drawn with complexity, wit, and depth create a world worth returning to again and again."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred review

Eleanor & Park

by Rainbow Rowell
published: St. Martin's Press, 2013
pages: 328

Eleanor meets Park on her first day of school when he saves her from the nightmare that is the school bus.  Despite the fact that they didn't talk, they manage to bond and form a relationship that is tested in every possible way.  Eleanor is radiant and defiant and Park is observant and methodical and they are both gliding through life, flying under the radar.  Will real life bring them together or tear them completely apart?

I absolutely could not put this book down.  I was sucked in from the very beginning by the incredible characters.  Eleanor and Park are enchantingly odd characters that you can't help but love.

My heart goes out to both Eleanor and Park for their different living situations, their joys and grievances.  They each deal uniquely with hard situations  and their relationship becomes their solace.  The story being told is not only their love story but the story of their growth as people in an environment that isn't always nurturing.

I've been complaining lately about parents being almost nonexistent in books, but in this book not only are the parents present but they are vibrant and essential characters.  They act like actual parents, which is so much better than shell parent characters.  They give and deny permission, punish and reward based on behavior and they prove to be an essential part of this story.

The ending of this book is incredible, like mind shattering, dangerous and wonderful.  There is so much tension and anxiety surrounding it and the actual ending is perfectly realistic and not at all wrapped nicely in a little bow.  I think that's one of the reasons I love this book so much.  It felt authentic like I was reading about someone's actual life.

Rainbow Rowell once again makes me feel very strongly about fictional characters in the best way.  I love her writing and I love this story.  I cannot wait to get my hands on more of her work.

Stars 5/5

Praise:

"Rowell keeps things surprising, and the solution maintains the novel's delicate balance of light and dark."
     --Publisher's Weekly, starred review

"Funny, hopeful, foulmouthed, sexy and tear-jerking, this winning romance will captivate teen and adult readers alike."
     --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The pure, fear-laced, yet steadily maturing relationship Eleanor and Park develop is urgent and breathtaking and, of course, heartbreaking, too."
     --Booklist

An Alphabet Soup Challenge Book.
A 2015 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge book.  

Please Ignore Vera Dietz

by A.S. King
published: Ember, 2012 (first published 2010)
pages: 326

Vera spent most of her life keeping her best friend, Charlie's secrets, even after he betrayed her.  Even after he ruined everything.  So when Charlie dies under mysterious circumstances, will she continue to hold the secrets that might just help clear his name?  Does she even want to?

This is my first experience with A. S. King, despite the entire internet yelling that all of these books should be read.  I'm not going to lie, I couldn't put it down and when I had to all I did was think about the book.  I had this incredible desire for everything to turn out alright, but as we know from the first page or so, nothing turns out alright.  I wanted to hate this book because it wasn't what I expected it to be, but I can't.  I can't and here's why:

The story telling is amazing.  I loved the short chapters from different points of view.  The story is mostly told from Vera's POV, but we get snippets from other characters and inanimate objects, which are hilarious.  There's also a POV that is all knowing, but doesn't quite understand how to explain everything to Vera, mostly because he's dead and he can't talk to her in the conventional way.

The short chapters are great because you get more of each character glimpses at a time.  They bounce around from present to history to explain relationships and reasons why Vera is mad or wants to be considered invisible.  It great storytelling really.  I was hooked by this book.

The characters in this book felt real, like I was reading something that actually took place.  Everything seemed gritty and raw from the way characters interacted to the way they made choices and the parentage that the characters tried to deny.  I was incredibly frustrated with choices that characters made, the same way I would have been frustrated if my friends would have made these choices.

There's a reason this book was awarded the Printz Honor.  I cannot wait to read more of A.S. King's books.  In fact, Everybody Sees the Ants is on my shelf right now waiting to be read.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"A harrowing but ultimately redemptive tale of adolescent angst gone awry."
     --Kirkus Reviews, starred

"Deeply suspenseful and profoundly human."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred

"Vera's struggle to put Charlie and his besmirched name behind her is at the crux of this whitty, thought-provoking novel, but nothing compares to the gorgeous unfurling of Vera's relationship with her father... [A]n arresting tale."
     --Booklist, starred

Silver Linings Playbook

by Matthew Quick
published: Sarah Crichton, 2008
pages: 289

Pat Peeples believes that life is actually a movie produced and directed by God and when bad things happen to him, he knows that God is punishing him.  However, silver linings are what he lives for and the silver lining to his life is that God will provide Pat's happy ending and all he needs to do is get physically fit and emotionally literate so that his wife, Nikki, will love him again.  Now after several years in a mental facility, he has returned home to his parents and begins to build his life once more, but is he ready for the stress and is involved the real world.

This story tracks Pat who has a pretty serious mental illness, which includes amnesia of the incident that required him to go to "the bad place".  There is quite a lot of insight into the mind of someone who has a mental illness because we see everything from Pat's point of view.  He's got a fixation with Nikki and making himself better for her.  Pat's way of thinking is skewed, which makes for a very interesting and unintentionally funny read.  At the beginning, it feels as though a 10-year-old boy is telling the story, but as we get to see more of Pat, there's an understanding of how he thinks about and copes with the world.

The relationships between the characters in this novel are key to understand them.   Each character in this book tells their own story, we see them from Pat's point of view.  He tends to categorize people by their marriages and how he perceives them.  For instance, Ronnie and Veronica's marriage seems to be okay, except for the fact that Veronica controls Ronnie all the time.   And his parents have a dysfunctional relationship, but he sees everything because he lives with them.  Pat's entire goal in life is to be a better husband, so he looks at the marriages around him for examples of how to or how not to act.   He works hard at being kind, not right and he's practicing on the people in his life so when "apart time" ends he will be an expert for Nikki.

There is a chapter in this book called "My Movie Montage" and it's quite possibly my favorite chapter of the entire book.  As the title suggests, it's a movie montage but in written form: enough said.

Matthew Quick proves again to be an excellent story teller, crafting intriguing characters and following them on a journey of self-discovery.  I am eager read more his work in the future.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"Matthew Quick has created quite the heartbreaker of a novel in The Silver Linings Playbook."
      --Kirkus Review

"You don't have to be a Philadelphia Eagles' fan to appreciate talented newcomer Matthew Quick's page-turning paean to the power of hope over experience - the belief that this will all work out somehow, despite the long odds that life deals us.  Tender, soulful, hilarious, and true, The Silver Linings Playbook is a wonderful debut."
     --Justin Cronin, PEN/Hemingway Award-winning author of Mary and O'Neil

Eclectic Reader Challenge 2014 book.

Champion

By Marie Lu

Published: 

Pages: 369

It's been eight months since June and Day have seen each other, but when June comes calling, Day doesn't hesitate to move Eden and himself back to Denver.  However, June hasn't been completely honest with her reasons for wanting him to return.  Day still has not told June his reasoning for leaving either.  It's a web of lies and half-truths that could ultimately cause the greatest war between the oldest of enemies: The Republic and The Colonies.  June and Day seem to be the only ones able to make the sacrifices necessary to saving the planet from war, but are they willing to do it?

My first thoughts after finishing this book were: now that's how you finish a trilogy. Recently I've been let down by the third book in several trilogies so my hopes were not high for this one. But I was blown away by this conclusion, however frustrating I initially thought it. The story telling in this novel is excellent. The pace was steady with high action and resolution in the perfect place to keep the narrative compelling.

The characters we met in the first two books come into play big time. Even the infuriating end of Prodigy fuels this book with just the right amount of stubborn angst and tension to keep me coming back for more.  There are a couple of places characters say and do things that I thought puzzling because it seemed slightly out of character but those moments were few and far in between. 

The best part about this novel is that even though there is clearly loads of romantic tension it's not goddy, to use one of Day's favorite words.  There is something at stake besides the happiness of the romantic leads, which can sometimes be overshadowed by teenage angst.  That is not the case here. There is a real sense that something important is about to happen, the worst may not be over like June and Day hope. The tension between The Republic and The Colonies is by far the most palpable. 

Marie Lu has created a world in which I would not want to live, but however many issues I have with it, her characters are aware of their faults. They struggle with the difference between using their hearts and logic to live in the only world they know and there are consequences to actions. That's what I love about this series.  This is a series that I would read again and again and find something new every time.

PS. The cover is gorgeous!

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"Remains masterfully true to its themes of loyalty, necessity, and dreams, eschewing any easy outs that the plot could offer."
     -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The exhilarating finale to the dystopian Legend trilogy delivers on the promises of the genre without ever being predictable about details.  Ever respectful of the capacity of its readers, this series offers a satisfying conclusion of potential rahter than a neatly wrapped denouement."
     --Kirkus Reviews

Cress

By Marissa Meyer

Published: Feiwel and Friends

Pages: 550 

Cinder and the gang are still running from the law both on Earth and Luna. When they come in contact with a young lunar shell named Cress who has spent the last seven years cooped up in a satellite, they decide that she might make a valuable ally. However, when things don't go as planned in the rescue, it is up to Cinder to pull everyone back together. Meanwhile, Cress must come to terms with the idea that she might not live long enough to make a difference in the fight for good. 

The thing about this book is that the momentum never quits. There is never a moment in the book where I felt like it was a good place to put the book down for a while. I just wanted to keep reading the entire time. I needed to find out what happened next. It was time for events to converge and people to interact and butts to be kicked. This roller coaster of a book kept me guessing who would come out on top and at what costs.

I've said it before, but I'm going to say it again. I love fairy tale retellings and I find it particularly impressive when they are linked. Marissa Meyer has done it again.  She tells the story of Rapunzel in a unique and interesting way that has me thinking more complexly about the characters. She weaves this story seamlessly with the other stories in this genuinely incredible world she has created. 

The further we dig into this world, the more learn about it's crazy cast of characters.  Cinder is honing her gift and Thorne shows a more compassionate side. Wolf and Scarlet are as feisty as ever and Dr. Erland discovers more about the plague. Kai shows his true feelings about being engaged to the lunar queen. And we meet a lovely addition, Cress, who happens to be incredibly gifted with hacking and dismantling technology. All of these attributes are just the tip of the iceberg in the book. I'm in love. 

I really have no complaints about this book other than I have to wait for the conclusion! Bravo Marissa Meyer, you have me under your spell. I cannot wait to see what the finale holds.

Stars: 5/5 

Praise:

"Once again, Meyer  offers up a science fiction fantasy page-turner that salutes women's intelligence and empowerment...Old and new romance, unfinished story lines, and the prognostication of wartime horrors all pave the way for Meyer's much anticipated next installment."
     --Booklist

"This multilayered, action-packed page-turner is sure to please series fans."
     --The Horn Book

"Meyer continues to show off her storytelling prowess, keeping readers engaged in a wide cast of characters while unfolding a layered plot that involves warring governments and a fast-spreading plague.  The momentum Meyer built in the first two books continues to accelerate as the stakes grow higher for Cinder and her friends.  The next installment cannot come fast enough."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred review

This is a 2014 Eclectic Reader Challenge book!

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead
published: Wendy Lamb Books, 2009
pages: 199

Miranda knows the streets of her Manhattan neighborhood even though she's only in sixth grade.  Her world is full of safe places and people to avoid, like the laughing man on the corner.  She has it all figured out, until one day her life starts to unravel.  Her best friend gets punched by a stranger and begins to shut her out.  She discovers a note written on a tiny piece of paper warning her and asking her for help.  The notes keep coming and Miranda starts to realize that whoever is leaving them knows all about her and actually needs her help.  She has to make a decision whether or not to help the mysterious letter writer, but what will she choose and will she make her choice too late.

Even though I guessed the plot-twist early on in the story, I enjoyed it no less than I would have otherwise.  I thought it was cute and interesting and very creative.  The fact that Miranda is narrating the letter she won't write to a mysterious person is also incredibly intriguing.  I really liked that everything about this story kept me wanting to know more, to understand where the story was going and why Miranda was telling the story in the first place and to who she was or wasn't telling the story.  I had all these questions and more, and they were all answered, but I had to wait patiently for the answers.

I also really enjoyed that the titles of each chapter were categories that could have shown up in Pyramid, the game show.  I thought it was a creative way to tie in a couple unlikely aspects of this book.

I loved learning about the characters from Miranda's point of view. She had a very clever way of describing people and explaining what thought was weird. For example, why Sal wouldn't talk to her anymore and why Colin started hanging out with her and another friend a lot.  All of her thoughts and feelings were very reminiscent of a twelve year old.  The aging of the characters was excellent, I really thought a twelve year old was talking to me.

It's no wonder that Rebecca Stead received the 2010 Newberry award for this book.  She knocked it out of the park.  I look forward to checking out more of her work, that's for sure.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"When all the side walk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say, "Wow...cool."
     -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Closing revelations are startling and satisfying but quietly made, their reverberations giving plenty of impetus for the reader to go back to the beginning and catch what was missed."
      --The Horn Book magazine, starred review

"This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers."
     --School Library Journal, starred review

This is an Eclectic Reader 2014 Challenge book!

The Raven Boys

by Maggie Stiefvater
Published: Scholastic, 2012
Pages: 409

Blue Sargent may come from a clairvoyant family but she does not have the gift herself.  She does, however, have the ability to enhance others' gifts just by standing in the same room.  She cannot see spirits nor can she feel them, that is until one speaks directly to her. Blue discovers that the spirit is a rich student, from the local private school, named Gansey.  She has made it a point to stay away from these boys because they always spelled trouble.  However, her life begins to cross paths with Gansey and his gang of Raven Boys in unpredictable ways.  Blue finds herself becoming more and more involved in their strange and sometimes sinister world, unsure if she will be able to escape.

This book was surprisingly wonderful.  I really had no expectations going into this novel, so it was a lovely surprise.  The characters were well developed and relatable.  I particularly liked Blue and Gansey, but thought as if Adam and Ronan were guys I could have known in high school. I liked that Gansey is incredibly nice even if there are times when he is unintentionally condescending.

The mythology is fascinating and relatively uncommon and even though I felt confused for quite a bit of the story, it compelled me to keep reading.  The paranormal aspect of the story was intriguing, especially Blue's abilities compared to her family's abilities.  It's interesting that the powers complement each other and Blue's power is very helpful in unlikely moments.

Maggie Stiefvater has worked magic into this story and I cannot wait to find out what happens next. Needless to say, I will definitely be checking out the rest of this series even if I have to wait for it.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"One unexpected and wonderful surprise after another...a marvel of imagination."
     --Booklist, starred review

"Simultaneously complex and simple, compulsively readable, marvelously wrought."
     --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Haunting...a tour de force of characterization."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Incredibly rich and unique...a supernatural thriller of a different flavor."
     --School Library Journal, starred review

Lola and the Boy Next Door

by Stephanie Perkins

published: Dutton, 2011
pages: 338

Lola Nolan, age 17, believes that life is more fun when you're wearing a brightly colored wig.  Her love for life extends beyond that to her family and friends and her rocker boyfriend.  She expresses herself without a care for what others think of her, that is she does until the Bell twins move back into the neighborhood and her life.  Old lifelong feelings resurface and Lola must figure out what they mean and make an attempt to reconcile them before it's too late.

I'm going to say it.  I loved this book more that Anna and the French Kiss.  I don't how it's possible, but it happened and I have no regrets. Stephanie Perkins, I give you a standing ovation because you have out done yourself.

This book was just lovely.  There are no other words to describe it. The main characters, Cricket and Lola, are so unique but completely realistic in their quirks.  I love that Lola dresses up all the time, different wigs and outfits.  She's the embodiment of the idea of everything's more fun when you're wearing a costume.  Cricket's habit of writing on his hand with black permanent marker is very interesting because it's mentioned quite frequently but not explained.  It adds to his peculiar nature.

One of my favorite things is when people make appearances from other novels.  This book is a companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, but not a sequel, so I had no expectations that characters would drift between the two, but I was wrong.  Anna and St. Clair show up here and there as supporting characters to Lola and Cricket.  They reference things that happened in Paris and mention their future.  It's a brilliant way to provide a bit of closure within a greater story.  It's always fun to see what characters are up to after their story ends.

Despite the terrible cover (I like the new covers much better.), I read this book in two sittings, with the second one being the last 280 some pages.  I couldn't put it down!  I was absolutely absorbed into this story and cannot wait to get my hands on Isla and the Happily Ever After.  I can't help wonder if Lola and Cricket will show up in that book.  Either way, I want to read it now!

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"You're going to fall in love with Lola and the Boy Next Door.  Madly in love! Every page sparkles."
     -- Sarah Mlynoski, author of Bras & Broomsticks and Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have)

And Then There Were None

by Agatha Christie
published: Berkley Books, 1991 (first published
1939)
pages: 204

Ten people who have never met are invited to Indian Island by a mysterious host.  None of them knew that they would meet a cruel fate. Shortly after arriving, people begin to die according to the an old nursery rhyme.  As the tension and fear rises, each person tries to figure out who the murderer is before they become the next victim.

Once again, Agatha Christie threw me for a loop.  She always manages to surprise me, even to the very end.  I've said it before, I love trying to figure out the mystery before the book does, but I was stumped.  At one point, I was willing to believe that there was something supernatural at work.  I knew that wasn't the case, but I really had no idea.

I loved that so much of the story was based on a nursery rhyme, "Ten Little Indians".  It makes it creepy and at the same time exciting.  We knew how the next person was going to die, we just didn't know who it would be or when it would happen.  This kept me on my toes.

Rarely do I throw out the word brilliant, but this story itself was, well, brilliant.  All the characters were brought together because they were outside the law.  I thought this premise was incredible and some what understandable in a twisted vigilante justice way.

Each character justified themselves in different ways and went about trying to lay blame on others.  Their thought processes showed a lot of their character in a short period of time.  This book takes place over the span of two or three days, and we only know those characters for that long and yet, we know them.  These characters let their actions speak loudly.  I love that kind of characterization.

I shall be reading much more Agatha Christie in the near future.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"The whole thing is utterly impossible and utterly fascinating.  It is the most baffling mystery Agatha Christie has ever written."
--New York Times

"There is no cheating; the reader is just bamboozled in a straightforward way from the first to last.... The most colossal achievement of a colossal career.  The book must rank with Mrs. Christie's previous best- on the top notch of detection."
--New Statesman (UK)

"The most astonishingly impudent, ingenious and altogether successful mystery story since The Murder of Roger Ackroyd."
--Daily Herald (UK)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters

by Rick Riordan
published: Disney Hyperion Books, 2006
pages: 279

Percy Jackson finds himself in the midst of adventure once more when Annabeth suddenly appears at his school on the last day of class.  They race off to Camp Half-Blood just in time to see that the camp is in danger.  It is up to them to find the only thing that can save the camp, the golden fleece.  Along the way, Percy meets new people and and discovers more about himself.  But how will he handle all this new information; will he use it to his advantage or let it get the best of him?

The characters in this book/series truly grow before my eyes.  Even though Percy and Annabeth are only a year older, they seem wiser and their friendship has grow closer.  The new characters are wonderful.  Tyson is one of my favorite characters, though he seemed like a very insignificant character at the beginning.

The world building that happens in this story is incredible.  We get to see more of the mythical world, and how the mist works on Percy and on mortals. (This mist is what conceals monsters and other mythical creatures and people from mortals.)  We meet new monsters and learn more about Greek mythology.  I think one of the coolest things about this series is that there are so many Greek myths recounted within the stories.  Percy gets ideas from them and takes their advice.  At the same time, these stories help build our own knowledge and that helps us understand Percy and Annabeth a little bit better.

Rick Riordan continues to be very impressive in this installment of Percy Jackson's adventures.  I am in love with Percy and his world.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"In a feat worthy of his heroic subjects, Riodan crafts a sequel stronger than his compelling debut in this second adventure.  With humor, intelligence and expert pacing, the author uses this tale of believable teens and their high-stakes struggle to bring the mythical lore up to date."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"[A] fast and funny tale, full of action, wisecracks, and superhuman powers.  It's an entertaining retelling of Greek mysths and a good bet for adventure and fantasy fans as well as reluctant readers."
     --KLIATT

"Riordan settle into the classical world he's created, introducing new monsters and the Odyssean ruses to defeat them, and balancing intensity with humor throughout the clevely constructed adventure."
     --Hornbook

Divergent

by Veronica Roth
published: Katherine Tegen Books/Harper Collins
pages: 487

In Dystopian Chicago, there are five factions of people that help to make the city thrive.  When Beatrice Prior turns 16 she has to make the most important decision of her life. Will she stay with her family or choose to be herself and join a different faction?  What follows her decision is an initiation that tests not only her abilities but who she is as well.  She also carries a secret with her that, if found out, could mean her death and suffering of those she loves.

I was a bit weary going into this book, not because I wasn't excited to read it, but because I've had books in the past that were built up like crazy and they weren't as good as I anticipated.  Even so, I was looking forward to reading this for a long time.

By page 50 I was hooked.  The story is quite complex and unexpected.  I really enjoyed reading, anticipating what was going to happen next.  The pacing of this story is excellent.  The isn't a lag anywhere in this story, but to the same degree it isn't too full of movement either.  The balance between action and development seems to be perfect in this book.

The characters were interesting and the way that people in this society are divided up by personalities is strangely inviting.  They are born into one faction and are able to choose which faction they want to spend the rest of their lives.  I imagine this would be an overwhelming decision.

The setting of this story is vivid.  It takes place in Chicago, but it is contrasting to the Chicago I know and love. Veronica Roth cleverly describes places that many people reading this book would been to or at least heard of making it, at least for me, easier to picture.

5/5 Stars

Praise:

"You'll be up all night with Divergent.  A brainy thrill-ride of a novel."
     --BookPage

"A memorable, unpredictable journey from which it is nearly impossible to turn away."
     --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

by Lewis Carroll
published: HarperCollins, 2010 (first published 1865)
pages: 129

Alice is a normal little girl, who doesn't like to read anything that doesn't have pictures in it.  She also doesn't like to just sit around.  One day while she is force to do both, she see a quite peculiar white rabbit in a waistcoat and follows him down a hole.  Alice's day changes drastically as she adventures in a most enchanted land, full of unique creatures and all sorts of trouble. 

I have always really enjoyed the animated Disney movie and the recent live action version.  Alice's story has intrigued me, but I hadn't gotten around to actually reading it before now.  It's a shame. I think what really pushed me to read this was a book called Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin which I read and reviewed in August.  I figured since I had immersed myself in everything Alice, but hadn't read the actual story, it was about time.  And boy, I wasn't disappointed. 

This story is whimsy and mystical and all sorts of strange.  I love the sense of fun I got when reading this book.  The characters are all strange, but wonderful in their own way.  The white rabbit with his pocket watch, and Alice only thinking him strange when she realized that she'd never seen a rabbit with a pocket watch and had never known that they had waistcoats to put their pocket watches in.  The descriptions are just as whimsical as the characters themselves.  The mock-turtle, for which mock-turtle soup is made from, is a turtle who has become a mock-turtle. He sings and tells sad stories of his past.  

All of these beautiful images come for Lewis Carroll's mind and they are spectacular.  He speaks to all ages with this story.  The imagination is captivating and beautiful.  I can't wait to read the rest of Carroll's work. 

Stars: 5/5

Praise: 

"By any reckoning...[one of the] most original works of fiction to emerge from that strange and orginal time known as Victorian England."
     --Guardian (London)

"At once a biting social and political satire sufficiently complex to satisfy the most sophisticated adult and a delightfully whimsical fairy tale to capture the fancy of the imaginative child."
     --Masterpieces of World Literature

Legend

by Marie Lu
Published: G.P. Putnam Juvenile
Pages: 305

In what used to be known as the United States, the Republic has taken root and become perpetually at war with it's enemy, the Colonies.  Within the walls of this hierarchy,  two 15-year-olds become very important to the nation.  June is a perfect score government prodigy and Day is the country's most wanted criminal. When their paths cross unexpectedly, it becomes a battle of strength, will, and truth.  It's up to them to decipher what is real and what is a lie; who they trust and who will be right: June or Day.

The thing I found most unique and engaging about this story is the two different perspectives: Day and June.  We see the challenges from these two very different places in this society and gather different sets of information from both characters.  We also get to see each character develop together throughout the story, we see the weight of their own struggles.

I especially enjoy the character development of June and the degree to which she slowly changes, grows into her own.  Even though she's a prodigy, she is imperfect in other ways.  She learns this about herself in startling circumstances.  The further she digs into the mysteries of the Republic, the more she finds out about herself as a person.  

Marie Lu is great at world building.  Even though the book is set in a futuristic LA, the visual of the outer-bank slum areas with flooded buildings and ruined high rises are vivid, especially in contrast with the electric, modern strongholds of the rich government areas.  The obvious differences add to the characters' differences but also provides more impact when they begin to interact.

I was so captivated by this book, I cannot wait to read the sequel!

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"A romantic thriller set in a post-apocalyptic world where nothing is what it seems - Legend is impossible to put down and even harder to forget."
      --Kami Garci, New York Times Bestselling Co-Author of Beautiful Creatures

"A dripping thriller in dystopic future Los Angeles...this is no didactic near-future warning of present evils, but a cinematic adventure featuring endearing, compelling heroes."
     --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

This is an Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge book!

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

by John Green and David Levithan
Published: Speak, 2011 (first published Dutton, 2010)
Pages: 310

When Will Grayson meets Will Grayson, they aren't expecting each other.  In fact, the first is buying a souvenir for his best and gay friend, Tiny Cooper and the other is meeting an internet friend.  Little did they know that their meeting is the catalyst for events that lead to the most entertaining musical to ever hit the high school stage.

Tiny Cooper is one of the funniest characters I have ever had the pleasure to read.  In addition to being completely gay, I mean that in the very best way, he is charming and so outgoing it hurts.  I laughed so much while reading about Tiny's musical, who would have thought to write a musical about themselves? Tiny Cooper.  That's who.

I was very excited to actually see the musical in the book.  I am a self professed lover of musicals so this just made my day.  The lyrics to the songs are priceless and entertaining and the scenes are wonderfully obnoxious.  I can't help agreeing with Will Grayson, the best friend, that Tiny is altogether too much to handle.  That, however, doesn't stop me from enjoying him and the rest of the characters.

The Wills are not quite opposites, just different guys with the same name and a shared Tiny.  They both, however, are having problems of their own.  To a certain extent Tiny, whether intentionally or unintentionally, helps them realize how to go about dealing with their problems.  They are, eventually, brutally honest with themselves and with those they love.  As characters, they are incredibly dynamic.

I give mad props to John Green and David Levithan for coming up with this idea and for writing it.  I am so glad because the world needed this book.  If these authors ever get the itch to write together again, I hope they don't hesitate.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a complete romp.  [It is] so funny, rude and original that by the time flowers hit the stage, even the musical-averse will cheer."
     -- The New York Times Book Review

"Will have readers simultaneously laughing, crying and singing at the top of their lungs."
     --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"It is such a good book. [Green and Levithan] are two of the best writers writing today."
     --NPR's The Roundtable

It's An Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge book!

I Am the Messenger

by Markus Zusak
Published: Knopf Books, 2007
Pages: 360

This is an Eclectic Book Challenge book!

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver that seems to be going nowhere with his life.  Then he starts receiving cards with names on them.  Ed becomes the messenger.  He begins to deliver messages to people he has never met.  His dull life is suddenly brimming with purpose.  Only one thing remains a mystery:  who's behind Ed's missions.

This book is so well written, it kept me continuously curious and interested.  After the first incredibly comical chapter, I was hooked.  It's not every day you read about someone unintentionally preventing a bank robbery.

The characters are incredibly engaging as well as infuriating.  Ed and his friends are an incredibly complex and quirky bunch of people.  They balance each other so well.  The Doorman is possibly one of my favorite characters in this book.  He may be just a dog, but he embodies so much more.  His human characteristics and relationship with Ed makes this story ten times better.  Ed knows exactly what The Doorman wants and needs and The Doorman knows exactly what Ed needs.

It seems that Zusak has a purpose for every word he writes. Each carefully placed poetically that gives this story a gritty charm.  I admire how he crafts words into sentences and sentences in to paragraphs.  Those paragraphs become the stories that grace the pages of his books.  .

It seems that Markus Zusak can do no wrong.  I cannot wait to what he has planned for his next novel.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:
"Zusak doesn't sugarcoat anything, but he makes his ostensibly gloomy subject bearable the same way Kurt Vonnegut did in Slaughterhouse-Five: with grim, darkly consoling humor."
-- Time Magazine

"Elegant, philosophical and moving...Beautiful and important."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"An extraordinary narrative."
-- School Library Journal